Tobacco article making machine



Oct. 17, 1939. s, CLAUSEN TOBACC O ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 30, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 NNN lNVENTOk WNN NN N

Q Oct. 17, 1939. 5 CLAUSIEN 2,176,487

- TOBACCO ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 30, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I 55 22 35 i i 67 I 89 I III&6\ i 37\ H 5] 29125 G IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH 69 1: I??? 46 7,2

I I I I I I 5 (G1 i I E 00 Q L IF 7, 2 w L X a I 36 F 26 G 2 i 7 i 4/ 42 4 34 i: 2 a0 1- 1- Oct. 17, 1939. 5 CLAUSEN 2,176,487

TOBACCO ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 50, 1-934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J31 F|G.8 I 13] INVENTg:

/ ATTRNEY Oct. 17, 1939. s. CLAUSEN 2,176,487

TOBACCO ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. s0,.19s4 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 J16 J17 ZZZ FIGJO 2 {Q} J25 I 129 INVENTg a Y I AT ORNEY Oct. 17, 1939. c us N 2,176,487

- TOBACCO ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Augr so, 1954 ,6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.||

INVENTR Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNETEE STATES PATENT oFFicE TOBACCO ARTICLE MAKING MAOHINE Application August 30,

1934, Serial No. 742,179

Renewed February 1, 1936 21 Claims.

This invention relates to a tobacco bunch making machine suitable for the manufacture of chewing or smoking bunches. It has been proposed to make these articles by forming a rod or roll of tobacco and then cutting the same into a number of bunches simultaneously, but it has been found that this tends to crush the tobacco rod. Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to avoid the described disadvantage of prior machines by producing a machine having a novel combination of elements and a novel mode of operation.

In pursuance of the same there is provided a machine which resembles a Toscani cigar machine, except that paste is applied only along one edge of the wrapper instead of over the entire wrapper, and after the wrapper is applied to the filler charge the tobacco rod or roll so formed is trimmed to a predetermined length and transferred to a channel wherein it is intermittently advanced endwise between opposed cutters and thereby cut into bunches of the desired length. The tobacco rod is advanced endwise in the channel by a pusher or plunger having an intermittent movement equal to the desired length of bunch, and at the end of each feeding movement of the plunger the opposed cutters sever a bunch, from the tobacco rod, the severed bunches being then collected and wrapped.

With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In'the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of the bunch making machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, of the pawl and ratchet mechanism for driving the feed belts;

Fig. 3 is a partial top elevation showing the feed belt drive;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the eccentric drive for the feed belts;

Fig. 5 is a side View of the same;

Fig. 6 is an end view showing the rod-trimming and bunch-cutting mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the mounting of the trimmer knives;

Fig. 9 is a partial side view illustrating the holding means of the trimmers;

Fig. 10 is an end view showing the adjusting means provided for the rolling apron;

Fig. 11 is a side view showing the ends of the cigar being trimmed; and

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show the tobacco rod being advanced and cut into bunches.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided means for forming a tobacco rod, mechanism for trimming the rod to predetermined length, means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches in said rod-advancing means. In the best constructions contemplated the rod forming means includes a plurality of belts arranged to form a channel, mechanism for intermittently driving the belts to intermittently advance a continuous stream of tobacco in the channel, a rod-rolling device, mechanism for severing a charge from the stream and depositing the severed charge on a pasted wrapper on said device, and a device controlled by the chargesevering mechanism for compressing the stream of tobacco in the channel while the charge is being severed. With the best constructions the rodtrimming mechanism includes a pair of stationary ledger plates, a pair of spaced trimmer knives opposed to the ledger plates, and means for actuating the trimmer knives to propel the tobacco rod sidewise past the ledger plates to trim the ends of the rod and deliver the trimmed rod to the rod-advancing means; the rod-advancing means operates to move the rod endwise step-bystep and the bunch-cutting device includes a pair of opposed. knives for severing the rod while it is at rest.

These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the bed is supported by the end frames 2 I, the former carrying brackets (not shown) which support the base 22.

The scrap tobacco is fed from a hopper (not shown) and falls into the channel formed by a horizontal endless bottom belt 23, and the vertical endless side belts 24 and 25. The bottom belt 23 runs over drive pulleys 26 and 21, and over idler pulleys 28 and 29, the pulleys 26 and 21 being mounted in pedestal 30 and the pulleys 28 and 29 being supported in bracket 3|. The side belts 24 and run over drive pulleys 32 and 33 mounted on base 22, and over idler pulleys 34 and 35 (Fig. 3) also mounted on base 22. The bottom belt and side belts at the end of the channel underlying the hopper run over other idler pulleys, not shown. The tobacco is advanced in the form of a continuous stream by the feed belts, and the upper run of the belt 23 on which thetobacco is advanced is supported by the bottom plate 36.

On entering the filler cutoff the mass of tobacco is cut into charge lengths, the filler cutoff being mounted on the base 22 and consisting of a vertical slide 37, an operating lever 38 connected to the slide 371 by means of a link 39, and the stationary ledger plate Ml fastened to brackets AI and 41 attached to the base 22. The base 22 is provided with upright slideways 42 for the knife slide 37 carrying the cutter blade 43, and a lug 34 supporting the shaft 415 on which the operating lever 38 is fulcrumed. The lever 38 is actuated by an adjustable pitman 49 one end of which is connected to lever 98 and the other end of which is connected to a cam lever I89 fulcrumed on a shaft I96] and having a cam follower i9i in engagement with a cam I92 on cam shaft I93 of the machine.

Attached to the slideways A2 are the long bracket 3! and a short bracket ll on which the ledger plate is supported and the trap doors 9B are pivoted, the latter being normally held in a horizontal position in which they form a continuation of the belt 23, by tension springs 59. The slide 31 carries an adjustable plate -9 which engages with and opens the doors d8 as the knife descends, thus delivering the cut charge into the chianti belt or the rolling apron of the cigar forming mechanism, the torsion springs 59 closing the doors 48 as the knife ascends and lifts the plate 49.

To a cam shaft 5! (Figs. 4 and 5) is fastened an eccentric v52 revoluble in eccentric straps 53 and 54. The strap 54 is provided with a boss 55 receiving one end of an eccentric rod 55, the other end thereof being fastened to a head 51 pivoted on a stud 58 carried by an arm 59. A gear 69 fastened to shaft 5i is driven from the main drive of the machine by means of chain I95. running over sprocket E95 fixed to shaft EEI and sprocket i96 fastened to the main shaft I93 of the machine. The rotation of'the eccentric 52 actuates, through the rod as the arm 59 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 6!. The slotted end of arm 59 receives a stud 62 on one end of a rod 63, the other end of rod 63 being connected to arm 64 integral with a gear segment 69 fastened on a shaft 65 supported in the pedestal 39 (Fig. 1). The gear segment E55 meshes with a gear 6i loosely mounted on shaft 68. An arm 69 is keyed to the hub of gear 6?, the arm 59 carrying a stud it! on which is mounted a pawl ii engaging with a ratchet i2 keyed to shaft 98, and a spring i211 stretched between a spring post in the pawl and a post anchored in the arm 69 holds the pawl in engagement with the ratchet. A sprocket it fast on the'shaft 66 (Fig. 2) drives a chain 14 running over idlers i5 and it and over a sprocket Tl mounted on a shaft '58 supported in bearings I9 of the base 22.

When the rod 63 ascends the segment 66 through the pawl and ratchet arrangement drives the shaft 69 and all the members mounted on the same. Upon the downstroke of the rod 53 the pawl 'iI slips over the teeth of the ratchet, whereupon the gear 61 turns freely on the then stationary shaft 98.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a pair of bevel gears 80 and 8i fast to shaft 78 mesh with a pair of gears 82 and 83 respectively, the latter being mounted on the vertical shafts 84 and 85 which drive the side belt pulleys 32 and 39. The shaft 68 carries a gear 86 which meshes with a gear 9? mounted on a shaft 88, whereby the bottom belt pulleys 2B and 2! are driven in union to intermittently advance the stream of tobacco on the bottom belt 23. A bracket 89 attached to the bracket 30 supports the shaft 68.

During the descent of the rod 63 (Fig. 1) the drive of the belts 23, 24 and 25 is stopped; at this time the operating lever 33 descends and, through the links 39, causes the slide 3'! to bring the knife 43 into cutting engagement with the mass of tobacco on the trap-doors 59 and sever a charge therefrom along the ledger plate 60. A lug 90 on lever 38 engages a roller 9! carried by an arm 92. The arm 92 is pivoted on a stud 93 carried by a bracket 9d fastened to the slideway 42. On the free end of arm 92 is carried a forked head 95 supporting a rod 96 connected to a slide rod 9'! guided in the brackets 98 on base 22. The lower end of rod 97 is fastened in a frame 99 which carries the compressor plate I09. A tension spring Iili stretched between head 95 and bracket 98 tends to depress the slide rod 9'! and bring the compressor plate H39 into engagement with the mass of tobacco on the belt Nhi c the compressor I90 remains in contact with the charge the continued descent of the slide 3! causes the knife "53 to cut the charge. The then cut charge drops from its position on the trapdocrs 48 (Fig. when the plate 49 encounters and swings open said doors, and the slide 3! presses the charge down on a pasted wrapper on the section of the chianti belt 892 overhanging the forming table I27, the continued downward movement of the slide forming a loop I92 in the apron I 92, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10. The wrapper may be transferred to the chianti belt from a cutting bed (not shown) by a wrapper carrier of well known construction of the type shown in Patent No. 1,543,8'Z i granted to R. E. Rundell, June 30, 1925, or may be placed thereon manually, and pasted by' a past-er of the type shown in Patent No. 1,945,037, granted January 30, 1934, on the appiication of J. F. Halstead.

After the charge is thus located in the loop of the chianti belt the slide 3! ascends and in so doing permits the springs 54' to close the trap doors 48 in readiness to receive the next charge. The compressor 490 retains its position during the ascent of the slide and acts as a stripper on the stream of tobacco on belt 23 until the cutting edge of knife '13 has passed the base 99 of the compressor; at this point the lug 99 of arm 38 engages the roller 9!, thereby lifting the arm 92 until the compressor I99 is clear of the tobacco on belt 23 as the continued ascent of the slide returns the knife and the compressor to their original positions.

' To the shaft M (Fig. 10) are attached the face cams i0 5 and I94 having cam tracks in which engage the cam rollers I95 and I99 of cam levers I9? and H5 respectively. The cam lever I91 is fulcrumed on a stud H39 in the bracket I09 which is attached to the bed 29. In the upper end of lever IE3! is fixed a stud i If! on which is pivotally mounted a U-shaped apron tightener arm III (Figs. 1 and 10). The arm ii! is provided with an adjusting screw H2 bearing against a lug H3 of the lever Ml. The adjusting screw H2 is conveniently located and provides means for swinging the arm III in or out, for loosening or tightening the rolling apron I02. A torsion spring I I4 placed on the stud II and having its ends anchored to the stud and aprcn-tightener arm, assures constant engagement of the adjusting screw with the lug.

The cam lever I I5 is fulcrumed on shaft 6| and its upper end is provided with a head IE6 carrying an adjustable pitman I I1 connected to a carriage H8 equipped with studs IE9 supporting flanged rollers I20 which travel between the tracks I2! and I22, the same being fastened to brackets I23 (Fig. 1). In the boss I24 or" stud I25 carried by this carriage I I8, is journaled one end of the forming roller I26 which is journaled at its other end in the same manner in a carriage IIB similarly mounted to travel on another set of tracks I2I and I22. One end of the chianti belt I02 (Fig. 10) is fastened to the far end of the forming table I21 and passes over the forming roller I26 and over a tightener pin I 28 carried by the arm II I, its other end being clamped to a bracket I29 fastened to the bed 20.

While the slide 31 presses the charge down into the chianti belt I02 to form the loop I02 therein, the forming roller is at its dotted position I26, and the arm III which is in its out position (not shown), moves inwardly sufliciently to loosen enough of the chianti belt to allow the slide 31 to form the loop I02 and compress the charge therein. The slide 31 then ascends and the forming roller moves across the forming table I21 from its dotted position I26 and starts to roll the charge in a binder which has been previously deposited on the chianti belt, thus forming a shaped tobacco roll or rod, the arm III simultaneously moving back to take up the slack in the chianti belt. At the completion of its stroke the forming roller reaches a position beyond the end of the table I21, whereupon the shaped tobacco rod falls onto a bridge I (Fig. (i) llocated between the trimmer knives I3I and The shaft 5I (Figs. 6 and 7) carries the cams I32, I33 and I34. In the cam groove of face cam I32 is fitted a cam roller I35 of a cam lever I36 fulcrumed on the shaft 6|. The upper end of lever I36 carries a link I31 connected to an arm I38 clamped to the shaft I39 which is supported in the bearings I40 and I II attached to the bed 20 (Fig. 8). A pair of spaced arms I42 splined on shaft I39 each carry a trimmer or knife I3I; the shaft I39 is being turned through its connections with the cam lever I36 causing the knives |3I to push the cigar sidewise against the stationary knives or ledger plates I3Ia whereby the ends of the tobacco rod are trimmed to obtain a rod having a predetermined length. The knives I3I continue to propel the now trimmed rod along the bridge I30, and deposit the same in the channel I43 of bridge I30, whereupon the trimmer knives return to their starting position.

The plate cam I33 engages the roller I44 on the cam lever I45 pivoted on a stub shaft I46 supported in a bracket I41 suspended from the bed 20. The free end of lever I45 carries a ball pin I48 fitted into a socket I49 connected by means of an adjustable rod I50 to a socket I5I receiving a ball pin I52 carried by an arm I53 of bell crank lever I54. The movement of lever I54 actuates an arm I55 pivoted to a stud I56 in lever I54, a roller I51 on arm I55 being thereby moved under the cam rail I58 attached to a clamp finger I59 to raise and lower the latter. The finger pusher I which rests in the channel I43 and,

serves to move the tobacco rod axially in the channel while the finger I59 retains it therein. The lever I54 is fulcrumed on a stud I66 carried by the bracket I61 which is suspended from the bed 20.

The bunch cutter cam I34 engages a roller I68 on cam lever I60 fulcrumed on the stub shaft I46 in bracket I41. The lever I69 actuates a pitman I10 connected to a bell crank I1I which is pivoted on stud I12 in a forked bracket I13 clamped to a stud I14 carried in bracket I41. On stud I15 carried by the forked ends of bracket I13 are pivoted the knife holders I16 and I11 carrying the bunch-cutting knives I18 and I19 respectively. Each knife holder I16, I11 has a slotted arm I and I8I,respectively, engaging with the pin I82 in the bell crank Hi.

When the rod I10 is pulled downwards by the cam lever I69, the bell crank 11! with its pin I82 turns on the stud I12, thereby depressing arm I80 and raising arm I8I and thus operating the bunch-cutting knives I18 and I19 to sever a butt from the tobacco roll in the channel I 43.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the arms I42 are splined on shaft I30, each arm I42 carrying a bolt passing through a slot in the adjacent ledger plate 131a and equipped with a compression spring I84 tending to press the knives |3I laterally against the ledger plates I3Ia. The ledges plates I 3Ia are carried on a clamp rod I85 held by clips I86 fastened to the bed 20, said arrangement holding the knives I3Ia stationary.

The tobacco roll or rod C is discharged from the rolling apron I02 (Fig. 6) onto the bridge I30 while the trimmer knives I 3| are in their open position. The movable trimmer knives I3I are then actuated to propel the tobacco rod past the ledger plates I3 Ia, thereby trimming the ends of the same to its desired length. The knives I3! continue to propel the trimmed rod until the same rests in the channel I43 of bridge I30, whereupon the knives I3I retreat while the pusher I65 is actuated by the lever I54 operated from cam I33, thereby permitting the clamp finger I59 to descend and rest on the tobacco rod and hold it in the channel while it is being cut into bunches, and advancing the tobacco rod endwise between the bunch cutter knives I 18 and I19 when the latter are in their open position. By. means hereinbefore described the bunch cutters are then actuated to cut the protruding end of the cigar, the bunch thus cut falling into a chute I81 (Fig. '1) carried by the bed 20. The severed bunch passes through the chute I81 onto a deflector plate, not shown, which guides the same to a storage receptacle. The remaining portion of the tobacco rod is similarly advanced step-by-step and cut into bunches as illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina tobacco bunch making machine, the combination with means for forming a tobacco rod, of mechanism for trimming the rod to predetermined length, means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches while it is engaged by said rod-advancing means.

2. In a tobacco bunch making machine, the combination with means for forming a tobacco rod, of mechanism for trimming the rod to predetermined length, a rod support, means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise along said support, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches While it is on said support, said rod forming means including a plurality of belts arranged to form a channel, mechanism for intermittently driving said belts to intermittently advance a continuous stream of tobacco in said channel, a rod-rolling device, mechanism for severing a charge from said stream and depositing the severed charge on a pasted wrapper on said device, and a device controlled by said charge-severing mechanism for compressing the stream of tobacco in said channel while a charge is being severed.

3. In a tobacco bunch making machine, the combination with means for forming a tobacco rod, of mechanism for trimming the rod to predetermined length, means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches while it is engaged by said rod-advancing means, a channeled bridge, said rod-advancing means including a pusher arranged to advance a trimmed rod endwise in the channel of said bridge, and means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said pusher to advance the rod in said channel step-by-step.

4.. In a tobacco bunch making machine, the combination with means for forming a tobacco rod, of mechanism for trimming the rod to predetermined length, means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches While an end thereof is in contact with said rod-advancing means, said rod-advancing means operating to move the rod stepby-step, and said device including a pair of opposed knives, and means for actuating said knives to sever the rod While it is at rest.

5. The combination with a plurality of belts arranged to form a channel, of mechanism for intermittently driving said belts to intermittently advance a continuous stream of filler tobacco in said channel, a rod-rolling device, mechanism for severing a charge from said stream and depositing the severed charge on a pasted binder on said device, a device controlled by said chargesevering mechanism for compressing the stream of tobacco in said channel while a charge is being severed, and means for cutting the rolled rod into bunches by successive cutting operations.

6. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches during its engagement with said rodadvancing means.

'7. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches during its engagement with said rod-advancing means, said rod-trimming mechanism including a pair of spaced stationary l dger plates, pair cf spaced trimmer knives opposed to said ledger plates, and means for actuating said knives to propel a tobacco rod sidewise against said ledger plates and thus trim the ends of the tobacco rod along the ledger plates, and delivered the trimmed rod to said rod-advancing means.

8. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of

means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into lengths during its engagement with said rod-advancing means, a channeled bridge, said rodadvancing means including a pusher arranged to advance a trimmed rod endWise in the channel of said bridge, and means for imparting a stepby-step movement to said pusher to advance the rod in said channel step-by-step.

9. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, and a device for cutting the trimmed rod into lengths during its engagement with said rodadvancing means, said rod-advancing means operating to move the rod step-by-step, and said device including a pair of opposed knives and means for actuating said knives to sever the rod while it is at rest.

10. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, a device for cutting the trimmed rod into bunches during its engagement with said rod-advancing means, and means for holding the rod while it is being cut.

11. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of means for moving said trimmed rod axially, and a device for dividing the trimmed rod into a plurality of lengths.

12. In a tobacco bunch making machine, the combination with means for forming a tobacco rod, of mechanism for trimming said rod to a predetermined length, means for moving said trimmed rod endwise, and means for dividing said rod into a plurality of lengths.

13. In a tobacco bunch making machine, means for rolling a charge of tobacco and a binder into a tobacco rod, means for moving the rod sidewise onto a support, a device for moving said rod endwise while on said support, and means for progressively cutting said rod into a plurality of bunches.

14. In a bunch making machine, means for forming a tobacco rod, means for trimming the rod to a predetermined length and transferring the rod to a support, a device for moving said trimmed rod endwise on said support and means for progressively cutting the rod into a plurality of butts.

15. In a bunch making machine, means for forming a tobacco rod, means for trimming the rod to predetermined length and moving it sidewise onto a support, means for intermittently moving the trimmed rod endwise on the support, and means for successively cutting said rod during dwells in its motion into a plurality of lengths.

16. The combination with mechanism for trimming a tobacco rod to predetermined length, of means for advancing the trimmed rod endwise, a device for cutting the trimmed rod into lengths, and an adjusting device for the advancing means for controlling the size of the lengths cut.

17. In a bunch forming machine, the combination with a rod rolling device, of mechanism for feeding filler tobacco, means for separating a charge from said fed tobacco and depositing it upon a binder on said device, means for transferring the rolled rod from said device, and means for cutting the rod by successive cuts into a plurality of bunches.

18. In a bunch forming machine, means for feeding filler tobacco, means for separating a charge from the fed tobacco and depositing it upon a binder, a rod rolling device for supporting said binder and rolling said binder and charge into a rod, means for trimming the rod to a predetermined length and transferring it onto a support, means for moving said rod step by step along said support, and means acting on the rod while on said support for successively cutting said rod between moving steps into a plurality of bunches.

19. The combination with a plurality of belts arranged to form a channel, of mechanism for intermittently driving said belts to intermittently advance a continuous stream of filler tobacco in said channel, a rod rolling device, including a rolling apron, mechanism for severing a charge from the stream and depositing the severed charge on a pasted binder on said device, a device controlled by said charge severing mechanism for compressing the stream of tobacco in said channel While a charge is being severed, a rod cutter, and means for producing relative axial movement between said rod and cutter to out said rod into a plurality of bunches.

20. In a bunch forming machine, the combination with a rod rolling device, of mechanism for feeding filler tobacco, means for separating a charge from said tobacco and depositing it upon a binder on said device, means for transferring the rolled rod from said device, a cutter, and means for producing relative axial movement between said rod and cutter to divide the rod into a plurality of bunches.

21. In a cigar bunch machine, mechanism for trimming and cuttinga tobacco rod into a plurality of bunches, comprising a cutter device, and means for producing relative axial movement between said rod and device to divide said rod into said bunches.

SIGURD CLAUSEN. 

